Andalucía: The Birth Place of Flamenco

The history of Andalucía is a time line composed of different religious and cultural inhabitants which all had an impact on the region today. It all started around 1000 or 900 BC, when Andalucía’s agricultural and mining wealth attracted Phoenician trading colonies to the coastal sites like Cádiz, Huelva, and Málaga. Then, at approximately the 3rd century BC, the Romans took over and governed Cordoba. During their reign, they turned it into one of the most civilized and wealthiest areas of the Roman Empire.

In 711, Andalucía was the base for Muslim invaders who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula from Africa under the Arab rule. From this point on the power shifted between Cordoba, Seville, and Granada as the leading cities of Islamic Spain. In the 10th century, Cordoba was even recognized as the largest and most stunning cultured city in Western Europe known by its “three culture coexistence” between Muslims, Jews, and Christians. As the Emirate of Granada fell to the Catholic Monarchs, Fernando and Isabel in 1492, Columbus’s landing in the Americas brought extreme wealth to Seville, Cadiz, and the Andalucian ports that enabled trade with the Americas.

However unfortunately by the 19th century and the period of the civil war, Andalucía went through what was referred to as “the hungry years.” During this time period approximately 1.5 million natives left to find jobs in the industrialized cities of northern Spain as well as other European countries. Luckily, tourism along with industrial growth and the boom of agriculture had a positive impact on the economy of Andalucía since the 1960s. Today, the ethnic influence can be seen all across Andalucía with the arrival of not only northern Europeans but also economic migrants from places such as Latin America, Morocco, Africa and Eastern Europe.

The history of Andalusia and its diverse mix of cultures have had a great impact on its native Flamenco dance form. Flamenco is said to be the music of Andalucian Gypsies that started within their social community. It all began with the Islamic invasion in 711 which contributed to the main musical influences when the conquerors brought their music and mixed it with the native Spanish style. The essence of the dance comes from the Moors, the Jews, the Catholics and the Gypsies equally. It is said that when Spain occupied the New World, they brought the influence of Latin American music and dance. Gypsy’s started to pick up these dance steps that were seen as inappropriate to European tastes, yet they became a permanent part of Flamenco and were recorded in literary and musical works from the 1500s on. From 1780 to 1850, the dance was done secretly in Gypsy homes in the Seville and Cadiz region. This became known as “The Hermetic Period.”

But the real Golden Age of Flamenco was between 1869 and 1910 when Flamenco became popular in “cafes cantanes,” a venue that offered ticketed public performances. This made the dance a public attraction in which guitar players gained a reputation for having a true artistic talent. The romantic aspect of Flamenco was born in the 19th century when the Gypsies became popular throughout Europe. It was at this time that a Flamenco show became a necessary activity for any trip to Spain, especially Andalusia. Today people from all over visit the region to experience Flamenco in its native country. Today, Flamenco can be found in three settings: the traditional “juerga,” an informal gypsy gathering; a professional concert; or a theatrical presentation. It is also very common for artists to be professionally trained unlike many years ago. On our trip we got the privilege to visit one of these schools in Seville and receive dancing and percussion lessons from two very talented Flamenco artists. It was an experience I will never forget, and I am so happy I got to learn Flamenco in the place of its birth.

"History of Andalucía - Lonely Planet Travel Information." Lonely Planet Travel Guides and Travel Information. Web. 28 June 2010. .


"Flamenco Dance History." Central Home Learn to Dance Videos, Exercise Videos, Fitness Videos and Sports Videos DVD Books. Web. 28 June 2010. .